FAIRHOPE, Ala. — One of the co-sponsors of next week’s mayoral and City Council candidate forums today released “voter guide” publications for those races.

The Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce, which is hosting next Tuesday’s mayoral and Thursday’s City Council events with the nonpartisan Citizens For Responsible Government, posted on its Web site today the candidates’ answers to five questions approved by the ESCC’s board of directors.

“This is a win-win situation,” said Darrelyn Bender, the ESCC’s executive director. “It gives the people running for office a chance to put in writing their goals and positions. And it gives the public another chance to see what the candidates have to say.”

All seven candidates running for mayor responded to the questionnaire, and seven of the 11 candidates running for five City Council places responded.

The ESCC is printing 500 copies of the publications to hand out at the forums next week, said Greg Coughlin, who led the group’s “Voter Guide Election 2008” project. He said the publications would be available online today at www.eschamber.com.

The candidates’ answers to question No. 2 on the questionnaire are included below.

Coughlin said the project goal was to have the voter guides ready by the first forum on Tuesday, Aug. 5. The deadline for candidate answers was July 25.

The forums next week start at 7 p.m. at the Fairhope Civic Center.

The Tuesday mayoral forum will be moderated by Kenny Graves of WHEP Radio, and the Thursday City Council forum will be moderated by Lori DuBose of WABF Radio. Both forums will be broadcast live on WABF Radio, 1220 AM.

The candidates in both forums will have two-minute opening and closing statements, with questions presented by the moderator developed in advance by the sponsoring organizations and questions submitted that night from the audience.

Questions may also be sent in advance to Gary Govers, vice president of CRP, by e-mail to govers@bellsouth.net, or by regular mail to Gary Govers, 300 Lincoln St., Fairhope, AL 36532. To be considered that night, the questions sent in advance must arrive two days before each forum.

“The forums are an opportunity for the candidates to describe and expand on their platforms,” Govers said. “They are also an opportunity for the public to gain additional information for their voting determinations.”

At least one more candidate forum will occur before the Aug. 26 municipal elections.

Sponsored by the Fairhope Downtown Business Association, that mayoral forum is Thursday, Aug. 14, 6:30-8:30 p.m., at the Eastern Shore Art Center. That forum will be moderated by Pete Blohme, the FDBA’s president and owner of Panini Petes Cafe & Bakeshoppe.

Mayoral Race

Excerpted with permission from Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce’s Fairhope Mayoral Voter Guide Election 2008:

Question No. 2: Outline your top three priorities if you are elected.

Jack Burrell: 1. Stop the rate at which the city is currently incurring debt and build a plan to reduce the city’s ten of millions of dollars of current debt. Establish two, five and seven-year financial plans. 2. Establish clear and open lines of communication between the mayor, the City Council, and all city officials and employees. Make city government more transparent. 3. Follow the Comprehensive Plan regarding the growth of the city — preserve the uniqueness, beauty and rich history of Fairhope while still allowing for managed growth.

Rick Gambino: 1. Encourage more businesses in the downtown area. 2. Get city finances in order. 3. Constantly circulate downtown and listen to merchants’ issues and concerns and encourage cooperation from the city to help these unique independent businesses succeed as they are the most important asset Fairhope has.

Robert C. Gentle: I believe the Fairhope area should better manage the inevitable growth we have been and will continue to experience to ensure it is sensible and compatible with a long-term vision for the city. Fairhope must revise its fiscal management policies for the future. Quality of life issues such as traffic, parking and sense of community must be enhanced to lead to a community where integrity, experience and leadership are apparent to all citizens.

Timothy M. Kant: 1. Manage growth — promote downtown Fairhope by keeping the two colleges in downtown which will ensure a work force, promote the medical industry, develop the 250-acre park around the airport, define the city limits and buffer zones. 2. Ensure quality, essential services and public safety for Fairhope residents. 3. Keeping Fairhope in the black, just like it has always been. One of my main goals has always been to maintain a conservative financial responsibility.

Dean Mosher: 1. Make Fairhope’s Comprehensive “Village” Master Plan actionable to protect our economic stability as our population is projected to grow 100 percent in the next decade. 2. Separate the mayoral job from superintendent of utilities, while at the same time bringing trust and fiscal transparency to city government. 3. Find new sources of revenue to offset our ever-growing debt that are not fee- or tax-based.

Vince Valentim: 1. Review of revenue development policies and procedures. 2. Develop a “Get Well Plan” for debt reduction. 3. An administration that is less intrusive and is more responsive with a unity of purpose which puts Fairhope first.

Chris Warner: 1. Manage Fairhope’s unbridled population growth. The city’s 50 percent increase in population over the last four years has spawned a host of service delivery problems. As an urban planner, I will promote prudent permitting decisions by the Planning Commission and City Council. 2. Balance the budget by defining recurring revenues and expenditures. This will be done through an objective, comprehensive audit. 3. Improve recreational opportunities for families like a movie theater, a bowling alley and a skating rink.

City Council Races

Excerpted with permission from Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce’s Fairhope City Council Voter Guide Election 2008:

Place 1

John H. Meyer: 1. Maintaining sound fiscal policies and accountability for the city to provide adequate services to all of its constituencies. 2. Aligning the city’s Comprehensive Plan with its strategic plan to insure growth in serving the needs and desires of its residents and business citizens. 3. Create an atmosphere of open communication between citizens and government leadership for addressing issues of growth and planning.

Debbie Quinn: 1. Fiscal restraint through council budgeting process and treating our utilities like a business. 2. Finding ways to plan and manage growth outside our city limits and encourage the viability of our downtown. 3. Create better ways of protecting our environment … wetland regulations/create a stormwater authority for maintenance of detention ponds/energy audits for city buildings/co-generation of electricity/building codes for energy efficiency/tightening of our tree ordinance.

Place 2

Danny Corte: My three priorities are: using a common-sense approach for smart controlled growth, better management of our city finances, and open and honest government.

Daniel R. Stankoski: 1. Fiscal responsibility. I will continue to insure the city is on sound financial ground. I support the implementation of a three- to five-year financial strategic plan. This would put the city in a proactive position in city administration, police and fire protection, safe drinking water, protection of the environment and upgrading our utilities and infrastructure. We must be judicious with our finances so as not to have to borrow money or seek additional sources of revenue. 2. Control growth and to protect property values by incorporating strict subdivision and zoning regulations into the Comprehensive Plan. If necessary, I would support another moratorium on building permits. 3. Continue to strive for transparency in city government in order that the citizens can see how and why money is spent, decisions made and to have input in the process which affects the lives and property of our citizens. Our city government should be open, fair and impartial.

Douglas Taylor: No response received.

Place 3

Newton E. Delchamps: No response received.

Lonnie L. Mixon: No response received.

Place 4

Phil Brady: 1. Make the Comprehensive Plan an effective document. 2. Place council at forefront determining budgets and appropriations. 3. Protect Fairhope’s uniqueness, its greatest resource.

Mike Ford: No response received.

Place 5

Alan T. Hall: 1. Develop new revenue streams, other than a tax or utility charge increase. 2. Promote our Downtown Business District as a destination for visitors. 3. Return to “common sense” managed growth that enhances and protects the Fairhope community.

Rick Kingrea: 1. Planning: Develop a strategic plan with cost/benefit analysis of crucial issues such as enlarging the waste treatment plant, transitioning from volunteer to full-time fire department, and annexation. Plans must be enforced equitably, regardless of family connections and length of residency. 2. Fiscal responsibility: Control spending. Constant review of all current non-operating expenditures. 3. Teamwork: Council and mayor must work toward common vision. Can disagree on issues, but goals must be well-communicated and embraced.

The last day to register to vote in the Fairhope city elections is Aug. 15, a Baldwin County Probate Court employee said. Local residents may register at the Satellite Courthouse in Fairhope.